The World Council of Churches 10th Assembly being held in Busan, Republic of Korea (30 October - 8 November 2013), is continuing the 60-year WCC campaign for advocacy of gender justice. The Council, in partnership with Korean women, has designed an encounter space – Umulga SHe-Space in the Madang exhibition hall at the WCC assembly. J. Ayana McCalman introduces the concept and the fresh space it opens up for conversation and action around gender justice.

The tenth assembly of the World Council of Churches, like many ecumenical gatherings, is facing strong opposition and criticism from fundamentalist-style Christian groups, notes Ekklesia co-director Simon Barrow. The answer this is not to adopt the mindset and rejectionism of our opponents, but to engage with with difference and “otherness” however difficult and challenging that might be.